(SANILAC COUNTY) -- Sanilac County Clerk Linda Kozfkay (ko-zef-ka) is retiring after 23 years in the position. Kozfkay submitted her letter of resignation to Circuit Court Judge Donald Teeple last Friday. She began her career in Sanilac County as Chief Deputy County Clerk for Delene Schultheiss in 1981 before being appointed to the position of County Clerk in December of 1990. Kozfkay says the biggest change she's seen over her years as clerk was the rise of technology over the last twenty years. Kozfkay adds that it's been a pleasure to serve the citizens of the county and to work with elected officials over the years. Her retirement is effective December 27, 2013. Judge Teeple is expected to appoint an interim clerk to fill the rest of the term, set to expire in December of 2016. Anyone interested in the position should submit a written letter of application to Chief Judge, Room 303 of the Sanilac County Courthouse, 60 W. Sanilac Avenue, Sandusky MI, 48471 on or before December 12th.

(STATE) -- The Michigan State Police Caro Post is dedicating extra traffic patrols during the Thanksgiving weekend. Starting today and continuing into Sunday, extra troopers will be patrolling Sanilac, Huron, and Tuscola counties. Caro Post Commander, First Lt. Mitch Kruglelkl says troopers' efforts will be concentrated on roadways most traveled, as well as locations throughout the counties where traffic crashes have historically occurred. Every Thanksgiving, law enforcement agencies throughout Michigan work to minimize traffic crashes during the busy travel period. The public is reminded to check the Michigan State Police Winter Travel Advisory for road and weather conditions before heading to their destination by going to www.michigan.gov/roadconditions, or calling 800-381-8477.

(SPEAKER TWP) -- The Sanilac County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday night in Speaker Township as part of their "out in the district" series of meetings. Commissioners approved a request from Dianne Schaffer of the Sanilac County Health Department for a grant application. The grant--part of the competitive grant assistance program--comes from the Department of Treasury. Money awarded from the grant would be used to conduct a feasibility study on the collaboration of services between Sanilac and St. Clair County health departments. Schaffer also informed commissioners that the $6,000 the county receives annually from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality for beach water testing has been cut for next year. Though beach water testing is not mandated, commissioners and the health department are sending letters to state representatives and senators expressing concern over the impact the cut could have on the county's tourism industry. In other business, commissioners gave the final approval for the Sandusky Arts Council's gazebo face-lift project. The roughly $8500 project will open up and expand the north side of the gazebo on the courthouse lawn in Sandusky. The project will be funded solely through donations and grants.

(HURON COUNTY) -- Deputies from the Huron County Sheriff's Office have arrested a 36-year old Port Hope man following a high-speed chase late Sunday night. Deputy John Dhyse was responding from the west side of the county to assist the Port Austin Police Department in a vehicle chase on M-25 in Port Austin Township around 10:50 pm. The chase was eventually called off by Port Austin police, however Deputy Dhyse continued to patrol eastbound on M-25 near Lake Township. He soon observed a westbound vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed near Osborne Drive on M-25. Deputy Dhyse attempted to stop the vehicle by pulling to the shoulder of the road and putting on his emergency lights. When the vehicle did not stop, a short chase ensued. The vehicle eventually pulled into a southbound driveway and came to a stop. Huron County Sheriff's Deputies recognized the car as the suspect vehicle from the earlier chase in Port Austin. The lone occupant, Robert Ciccarelli of Port Hope, was arrested and charged with felony fleeing and eluding and operating while under the influence of alcohol. He was released after posting a $4,000 or 10 percent bond.

PORT HURON, Mich. (AP) - An Oregon woman who left the body of her 89-year-old mother outside of a Michigan thrift store has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter. Forty-nine-year-old Kelly Rhodes was awaiting trial on a murder charge in Port Huron. But she pleaded guilty Friday to manslaughter and elder neglect charges that carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Mary Grenia of Salem, Ore., died a few days after she and her daughter were turned away while trying to enter Ontario, Canada, with a truck full of possessions. An autopsy revealed heart and lung disease but no sign of trauma. Grenia died in the truck. Her body was found March 9 in Port Huron Township. St. Clair County Circuit Judge Cynthia Lane is to sentence Rhodes on Dec. 23.

(BROWN CITY) -- The Brown City Council met Monday night and passed a resolution amending the city's 2013-2014 budget. The Brown City Tax and Finance Committee recommended the council approve the changes to the budget to better reflect revenues and expenditures. In other business, City Manager Clint Holmes reported that the Maple Valley Road project has reached completion. The final painting and sign removal were finished last week. The bulk of the $136,474 project was paid through state and federal funds. Brown City's share for the project came to $26,273--saving the city $110,201. The council also moved to research costs to build a containment wall around the city's fuel tanks in order to mitigate the potential effects of a spill or rupture following recommendations by the city's risk management inspector.

(HURON COUNTY) -- Gerald M. Prill of Bad Axe has announced his candidacy for Huron County Circuit Judge. The 44-year old partner at Ferris, Schwedler (sch-wade-ler) and Prill of Bad Axe has been a practicing attorney for over 17 years. The position of Circuit Court Judge will be an open seat upon the retirement of the Honorable Richard M. Knoblock (Kuh-know-block) after having served for 36 years. Prill is a 1995 graduate of Thomas M. Cooley Law School. He came back to Bad Axe in 2002 when he accepted a position as Huron County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney. While in the Prosecutor's Office, he handled numerous cases in all Huron County courts, ranging from misdemeanor and life offense prosecution. In 2008, he returned to private practice when he was offered a partnership with Ferris and Schwedler.

(MARLETTE) -- The Sanilac County Sheriff's Department is investigating the death of an 11-year old boy that happened in the 4000 block of Howard Road in Marlette Township on Saturday evening. Sheriff Garry Biniecki says the initial investigation revealed that a long gun was discharged by another 12-year old boy at the residence during a sleep over, killing Tyler Dunn of Marlette. There were no adults home at the time. The firearm was located by deputies and the incident remains under investigation. There have been no charges issued so far. Sheriff's deputies were assisted by the Sanilac County Drug Task Force, Prosecutor's office, The County Medical Examiner, Sanilac County Emergency Management, Marlette Police, and the State Police Crime Scene Unit.

(PORT HURON) -- Pipeline company Enbridge Energy says completion of construction of an oil pipeline in parts of Michigan will be pushed back until mid-2014. Word of the delay in Michigan comes after Calgary, Alberta-based Enbridge this week said its project to replace a stretch of oil pipeline across northern Indiana won't be completed until at least February, months later than planned, due to delays in obtaining needed permits. Enbridge spokesman Jason Manshum says that work in Michigan's Oakland, Macomb and St. Clair counties was supposed to wrap up this year, but delays in environmental approvals stalled work. The overall project is replacing Line 6B, which runs between Sarnia, Ontario to Griffith, Ind. A portion of Enbridge's existing pipeline ruptured in southwestern Michigan in 2010.

(DELAWARE) -- Authorities have released the names of the victim and injured UPS driver involved in a two-vehicle crash Tuesday afternoon on M-25, south of Huron Line Road in Delaware Township. Sanilac County Sheriff's deputies say the victim, 18-year old Javen Krohn of Caseville, was traveling north on M-25 when he crossed the centerline and struck the UPS truck driven by 49-year old Todd Gingrich of Bad Axe. Krohn was pronounced dead at the scene. Gingrich was transported to Harbor Beach Hospital and later flown by Life Net to Saginaw where he was treated and released. The crash remains under investigation by the Sanilac County Sheriff's Office Accident Investigation Team.